McCaskill's convention lobbying

Politico ^ | February 1, 2011 | Ben Smith

[Second Amendment First]

DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse emails that he's happy the selection process for the Democratic convention is now over -- and that Sen. Claire McCaskill lobbied the committee fairly hard to get the convention in her home state, pushing back on speculation that she wants to keep the national party at a distance during her reelection campaign.

"Senator McCaskill won’t be burning up the phone lines for St. Louis anymore. She’s a one person Chamber of Commerce," said Woodhouse.

The Times had reported that McCaskill privately harbored doubts about holding the convention in St. Louis:

Ms. McCaskill, one of the president’s closest friends in the Senate, took her concerns directly to the White House, according to party leaders familiar with the selection process. She argued that her re-election could be complicated if the convention was held in St. Louis, because the Democratic gathering will almost certainly attract protesters and compete for fund-raising.

[Second Amendment First]

From the linked article:

To win the convention, Charlotte coined the slogan “Reaching for Tomorrow,” which is intended to symbolize the changing face of the Southern city that is now the country’s second-largest banking center. Democratic officials in Washington debated whether that was the image they were seeking to begin the 2012 campaign, but the president’s surprise win in North Carolina in 2008 underscored the population shifts under way in the state.

North Carolina is a right-to-work state, and Charlotte has no union hotels, which was another point of contention among some Democratic constituencies.

While St. Louis has hosted four Democratic national conventions, and was recommended by Unite Here, the hotel workers’ union, for having the most unionized facilities, there were several other objections raised about the city.

Missouri, which once was considered a critical battleground state, has slipped out of the Democratic Party’s reach in recent presidential elections and it remains an open question whether Mr. Obama will heavily compete in the state in 2012.

One of the country’s most competitive United States Senate races is also taking place in Missouri, with Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, is being heavily focused on by Republicans as she seeks re-election to a second term.

Ms. McCaskill, one of the president’s closest friends in the Senate, took her concerns directly to the White House, according to party leaders familiar with the selection process. She argued that her re-election could be complicated if the convention was held in St. Louis, because the Democratic gathering will almost certainly attract protesters and compete for fund-raising.

[proudpapa]

The democrats are all but conceding Missouri.

[proudpapa]

I’m very pleased with their selection of Charlotte...

...and their decision to skip Minneapolis, St. Louis and Cleveland.

Right now the ‘official’ unemployment rate in North Carolina is hovering around 10%. The (D) governor is up for re-election. She won last time with 50% of the vote. There are no Senate races in NC in 2012.

Perhaps, the keynote speaker can be Bob Etheridge... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v60oNUoHBYM

...or Alvin Greene from neighboring South Carolina...

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-june-14-2010/alvin-greene-wins-south-carolina-primary